Jump to content

Catalina PBY-5A - Airfix 1/72


CedB

Recommended Posts

3 hours ago, Martian said:

Loads better!

 

Martian 👽

Aye, the guns don’t jam as frequently.

 

Is that the door over there.....?

 

Trevor

  • Haha 6
Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 minutes ago, Max Headroom said:

Aye, the guns don’t jam as frequently.

Not surprising seeing as how they are not gummed up with Vogon snot.

 

Martian 👽

  • Like 1
  • Haha 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks Giorgio, Simon, Martian, Bill, Ian, Trevor, Pete and Wince :) 

 

Lawn is mown!

 

 

I thought I ought to try and finish one before continuing with the rest. 

You can tell by the mess on the bench that I'm having to use lots of tools and stuff:

 

49866200432_2f16a1f03e_z.jpg

Untitled by Ced Bufton, on Flickr

 

I got the broaches out to open up the grip and trigger holes but I find them useless, twisted or moved up and down. Have I got a duff batch?

 

49865180443_9ab46d3de3_z.jpg

 

No cutting / filing surface that I can see?

 

Anyway, I've finished one:

 

49865354438_e736dd7dc5_z.jpg

 

0.8mm Albion tube, 0.8mm Plastruct body, ART band between the tubes.

 

OK to carry on Sir?

I need to put some detail on the body - sharpie / fine felt tip?

  • Like 14
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think the problem with broaches is they’re meant to do one job - make a hole bigger in diameter. The edges are the bits that do the cutting by rotating the broach.

 

They're not really meant to widen slots, though they can do it with care and in soft material like plastics. 
 

To use a broach, drill a hole in the usual manner, then insert an appropriately sized broach in the hole and twist it while gently pushing it into the hole. It will make the hole bigger in diameter. It’s ideal for making a hole just a bit bigger than the bit itself manages. I use broaches to ease out drilled holes in brass so it’s easier to fit hard drawn wire rod into the 'oles. Wire rod is frequently slightly larger than the diameter quoted on the packet.

  • Like 6
  • Thanks 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I use needle files to broach out holes that need easing

Not really important info acos Ced already has broaches, just saying

A good description of how they work, easy for the non-engineering mind to follow Heather

Nice one

In toolmaking for fasteners we often used hexagonal broaches to pull though a round hole with inreasing sized hexagonal teeth

 

This gave holes the right shape and size for nuts and bolt heads

Drill the tool steel, pop into the broaching tool and broach, then harden the new tool for making bolt heads to size

 

Lovely engineering

 

Broaches should be able to make many different hole shapes

 

Triffic!

  • Like 3
  • Thanks 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks Heather and Bill :) 

 

The old grey matter is stirring and I think you've both explained that to me before - sorry! Broaches for enlarging diameter, got it, thanks.

 

Thanks Johnny :) 

 

I went ahead and marked up some detail with a fine felt tip:

 

49869604717_b558464372_z.jpg

 

The new one is at the bottom - I hope you can tell…

 

I just need to make the other five from these bits:

 

49869298006_f716afbe32_z.jpg

 

… then I can get on with… what was I doing… oh, gun mounts so I can complete the internals and close up.

 

I went blood doning yesterday so I'm feeling a bit washed out this morning and very thirsty.

Unusual.

Maybe I'm getting too old for this regular blood draining…

  • Like 13
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, keefr22 said:

 

" A pint? That's very nearly an armful".... :)

 

Then drink a couple of arm's worth of beer. That should more than restore the situation.

 

Helpful of Mars 👽

  • Haha 7
Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 hours ago, keefr22 said:

 

" A pint? That's very nearly an armful".... :)

 

Nice 'ickle guns Ced!

 

Keith

Thanks Keith - classic :D 

I've found a video on YouTube. Bit weird as it's an example of digital cleaning so has 'two screens' but still worth a watch if you're not too worried about the pre-PC content! Here's the relevant bit:

 

 

You do get badges now - someone's listening perhaps :D 

 

3 hours ago, Martian said:

Then drink a couple of arm's worth of beer. That should more than restore the situation.

 

Helpful of Mars 👽

3 hours ago, perdu said:

Very helpful...

Thanks Martian and Bill :) Not allowed alcohol, apparently… might be worth an experiment though?

 

 

I've done a couple of bits.

Depth charges glued:

 

49870825087_821c27361a_z.jpg

 

Flash thingies stuck on with GG thin:

 

49870711346_98522be1c0_z.jpg

 

Hopefully more tomorrow.

 

  • Like 11
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, CedB said:

Thanks Martian and Bill :) Not allowed alcohol, apparently… might be worth an experiment though?

There are many who have spoken well of it.

 

Martian 👽

  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

14 hours ago, Martian said:

There are many who have spoken well of it.

 

Martian 👽

Quite right I hear - there was wine last night and I feel much better this morning :) 

11 hours ago, Selwyn said:

Have you thought about looking for some of these?

 

https://www.hpmhobbies.com/high-planes-vickers-k-gun-x-2-accessories-1-72/

 

Selwyn

Thanks Selwyn - looks like a new product (there's no image yet) but might be useful for future readers. :) 

It did lead me to a great site on the Vickers GO though.

8 hours ago, hendie said:

nice flashers Ced

Thanks Hendie :) 

 

 

More fiddly guns this morning.

I drilled two holes in each end for the grip and one for the trigger then used the SM61 fine to create the straight back and the pointed blade to round the front and clear the flash:

 

49873450612_ddc3f733c2_z.jpg

Untitled by Ced Bufton, on Flickr

 

This time I drilled two holes for wire to support the tube and stuck the wire in with CA. I found it easier to put a drop in the holes and poke the wire in:

 

49873535907_035b0bf453_z.jpg

 

Yes, that red stuff is blood, as if I haven't given enough this week. The drill broke through the plastic into my thumb.

It may be just a smear to you but it's life and death to some poor wretch (see Hancock video at 13:42) :D 

 

Tubes on with GG thin:

 

49873575072_90d5c53ca9_z.jpg

 

Not as wide a gap between the tubes as I would like but Albion don't do 'the right size'.

 

I'll let that dry, stick some ART on and paint them up with AK paste later.

  • Like 9
Link to comment
Share on other sites

While I'm waiting for the guns to dry I thought I'd look at the floats.

 

Oh dear:

 

49873344326_33cdcdc88f_z.jpg

 

49872932128_a8524fb7b5_z.jpg

 

Lots of ejector marks and the ones on the supports are in the middle of some panel detail.

Great.

 

Looking for some references I found a great picture from the Catalina Preservation Society here (scroll down and click to enlarge if you want to).

That shows (and explains) the folding mechanism but also shows the internal panels - that'll cover up some of the ejector marks.

 

The kit floats had the locating slots covered in flash:

 

49873400961_4e0bef9c15_z.jpg

 

…but they cut out well enough:

 

49872923133_71b4d3e323_z.jpg

 

I think that blob on the back is supposed to be the mooring rope ring? Nasty.

Assembled, the folding frame doesn't look too bad:

 

49872865313_a3759b2575_z.jpg

 

…but the hinge is too big and there's a missing rod - the one that pulls the frame into the wing.

 

Sounds like I've committed to 'floats down' eh? I think so, and it should be 'fun' :) 

  • Like 13
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Five guns painted:

 

49874486487_b7cdbd397b_z.jpg

 

Depth charges:

 

49873846458_d3943b832c_z.jpg

 

One of the tail rings was shorter than the others and didn't fit. Rats.

Scratch tube:

 

49874391956_67741b9e38_z.jpg

 

Not perfect but good enough for the ceiling:

 

49874714727_cbeed36964_z.jpg

 

Back to the floats.

 

49874739577_0f8726cb49_z.jpg

 

What do we think of the struts?

I think they look about the right thickness, but obviously the hinges aren't on the real thing so they'll have to go.

Oooh look, that part has a 'S' on it. So do these:

 

49873907278_a9a33808a8_z.jpg

 

As long as I keep flipping the wings over to check the port/starboard we should be OK.

  • Like 5
  • Haha 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...